Carrageenan is a gelling agent extracted from red seaweeds and it has multiple applications in the food processing and other industries. Increasing demand for carrageenan has led to rapid expansion of carrageenan seaweed (primarily Kappaphycus and Eucheuma) farming in tropical areas. This expansion is expected to continue, but many issues need to be addressed to enable the sector to develop its full potential in contributing towards sustainable livelihoods, human development and social well-being. Including six country case studies and a global synthesis, this document provides a comprehensive and balanced assessment of the economic, social and governance dimensions of carrageenan seaweed farming. Information and insights provided by this document should facilitate evidence-based decision-makings in both the public and private sectors.

This book collates the latest information on Kappaphycus and Eucheuma seaweeds. The edited volume provides an important companion to anyone studying or working with what is the world’s largest cultivated marine plant biomass. The contributing authors have excelled in providing information on production and present and future uses of these carrageenan-bearing seaweeds. Important elements of taxonomy, distribution and methods of cultivation and processing are presented to the reader in an accessible and easily understood format. The book provides a number of valuable opinions on value addition and MUZE technologies which highlight value-chains associated with these important red algae.

The seaweed revolution is a fresh hope for tomorrow. Seaweed develops in water everywhere, from the eternal glaciers to lagoons heated by the sun, from seas saturated with salt to the fresh water of our rivers.

Seaweeds around the World: State of Art and Perspectives, Volume 95, includes discussions on current research conducted in the field of algae. Specific chapters cover Isotopic Labeling of Cultured Macroalgae and Isolation of 13C-labeled Cell Wall Polysaccharides for Trophic Investigations, Selected Red Seaweeds from the Philippines with Emerging High-Value Applications, Challenges to the Future Domestication of Seaweed Cultivated Species: Understanding Individual Needs and Physiological Processes for Large-Scale Production, The Importance of Mucilage in Dispersion and Efficiency of Fertilization of Male Gametes, The Application of Seaweeds in Environmental Biotechnology, Indonesian Sargassum Species Prospecting: Potential Applications of Bioactive Compounds, and much more. Presents the most recent biological knowledge and advances on seaweed Content covers innovations to biotechnological, aquacultural and chemical developments about seaweeds field Written by the most experienced authors in the field

Algae, including seaweeds and microalgae, contribute nearly 30 percent of world aquaculture production (measured in wet weight), primarily from seaweeds. Seaweeds and cmicroalgae generate socio-economic benefits to tens of thousands of households, primarily in coastal communities, including numerous women empowered by seaweed cultivation. Various human health contributions, environmental benefits and ecosystem services of seaweeds and microalgae have drawn increasing attention to untapped potential of seaweed and microalgae cultivation. Highly imbalanced production and consumption across geographic regions implies a great potential in the development of seaweed and microalgae cultivation. Yet joint efforts of governments, the industry, the scientific community, international organizations, civil societies, and other stakeholders or experts are needed to realize the potential. This document examines the status and trends of global algae production with a focus on algae cultivation, recognizes the algae sector’s existing and potential contributions and benefits, highlights a variety of constraints and challenges over the sector’s sustainable development, and discusses lessons learned and way forward to unlock full potential in algae cultivation and FAO’s roles in the process. From a balanced perspective that recognizes not only the potential of algae but also constraints and challenges upon the realization of the potential, information and knowledge provided by this document can facilitate evidence-based policymaking and sector management in algae development at the global, regional and national levels.

This study is a first attempt to estimate the impact of a red seaweed (Asparagopsis taxiformis) feed additive on total emissions from cattle and the feasibility of scaling up farmed seaweed production to meet projected demand from the livestock sector. The approach used for the analysis combines projections of supply and demand of beef and milk production to 2050 with a cattle herd model that allows calculation of animal categories by age and sex, animal weight and production, and feed intake and methane emissions from cattle. At the time of this study, the seaweed additive showed limited applicability in grazing systems as it has been used experimentally, mostly incorporated in mix rations for each treatment animal, with not enough evidence available at present to determine the time of decay of the active component in seaweed after consumption by animals with limited access to the additive. Given these limitations, this study assumes that the applicability of the seaweed additive could be extended in the future to most dairy systems via slow-release formulations that have already been developed for other CH4 inhibitors and that can be fed daily during milking time. Based on this assumption, the maximum potential reduction of enteric methane emissions of the new technology is analyzed by projecting a scenario where the seaweed additive is supplied globally to dairy cows. Results show that the seaweed additive could result in a reduction of up to 10 percent in total methane emissions from cattle compared to a No-Seaweed scenario. Most of this reduction was driven by decreased emissions in Latin America, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. The estimated reduction in feed intake associated with the seaweed additive was equivalent to an annual reduction in grain consumption of approximately 50 kgs per cow, or US$5 billion in global cost savings per year. The total amount of dry seaweed needed to supply dairy cows in 2050 was estimated at 5 million metric tons per year, representing 18 percent of the world’s seaweed-farmed area. Simply assuming the sector’s long-term historical average growth rates, this production level might be reached in approximately 20 years, although there are still several open questions about production and technologies and high variability in production costs and producer prices, as A. taxiformis is not extensively produced at present. Available knowledge on seaweed production seems to suggest that, at least at the start, production of A. taxiformis will be by nearshore culture. Expansion of nearshore culture could result in site competition with established seaweed production, access to operational license and government approvals in several countries, licenses to use livestock feeds incorporating seaweed as a feed additive, and more research to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the additive in accordance with country’s regulations. The best possibilities for the development of production A. taxiformis seem to be in South Asia, for its growing demand and production of dairy products, its importance in terms of global emissions, and its location near the best- and well-established seaweed production areas in Southeast Asia.